Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-16
THE BUILDING OF BRIDGES
Maj. Mackenzie-s Plan as to Charters
"A Law Suggested Compelling
Rights.

Maj. Mackenzie-s Plan as to Charters
"A Law Suggested Compelling
Either Construction or Annullins OF
Rights.
| According TO the Democrat. Gdzstte
there has been considerable talk of late
ia Davenport about the charter for a
second railway bridge at this point. ].
NJ. Eldridge is endeavoring 10 initiate a
movement which shall compel the Dav-
export and Rock Island bridge company
to either build the proposed bridge, or
step out and let the city vote 5000, 900
for some other company to build it! The
company has held the charter nearly four
years, and its officers have done, and are
doing, their whole duty in effort to carry
their project to completion. For the
past three months they believe they have
been on the right track.
Whatever may be the opinion on this
subject, MAJOR Mackenzie, In charge of
the improvement of the navigation of the
Mississippi from Keokuk to St. Paul, has
proposed plan to the secretary of war,
which, if adopted by congress, will end
all controversy over this company's pro,
posed bridge and several similar projects.
The Major reports there are now in
existence any number of acts for bridges
over the upper Mississippi river. which
i, have never been taken advantage Of.
s Some of these acts are very old and de-
b, fective, and most of them were apparent
/, ly obtained, without any definite idea of
) use, and in some cases, possibly, merely
:, for speculative purposes. He recon-,
r mends legislation repeating all bridge
. acts under which actual construction has
= not been commenced within three years
s from date of passage"
s The information submitted by Majo
y Mackenzie, was prepared under orders tt
6 comply with the section Of the river ant
IS harbor act of Aug. 5, 1885. requiring
r, that reports be made to congress whethe
any bridges, raceways or structures o
:, any kind now erected or in process o
C erection, do or will interfere with FIRE
rs and safe navigation. A communicable
s. on this subject was transmitted to tn
IL senate by the war department last Sep
re TENDER
J. In this report the maj says there al
d; on the Mississippi numerous booms. pier
~ cribs, etc, which encroach upon Ii
i. channel and interfere with navigation
ell although none Of these cases are, pc
e. haps, of sufficient importance to jul
- tify special mention, but the spirit whic
nd leads to such constructions witho,
lie authority. he says, may at any tin
W result in work which will cause the int
=, ests of navigation much annoyance II
] worst in the river is at Hannibal.
nd plan was prepared at one time by Il
bridge company as result of the actio
80 of Major Mackenzie for the construct,
md of sheerboom from the west draw pI
'ss. to the main shore. This plan in all
!. "details was, upon recommendation
a 'S' Major Mackenzie, approved by the sec,
Mr. tary of war. About the time the comp
es- ny was said to be ready to purchase m
DIT; terial an opposition to the plan ero
e'' among the lumbermen whose ra
en-
ses passed the bridge. These part
the claimed that although at one time th
llss had approved this very plan, subseque
experience taught them that their o.
r,h business would be interfered with il tt
could not use the west or shore span
passing the bridge At the very urg'
Tere recommendation the sheerboom v
ap. postponed Since that time correspc
GERS dence has been had with the bridge CO
rm. pany and personal interview with (
act of their representatives in which
company was invited to submit an all
yrey native plan or give some Identification
yer, their intentions. Nothing has been
leu- ceived however. and the matter sta
ace. just where it did year ago. Ca
and Ruffner. U. S. engineer, insists I
something ought to be done by
en- bridge company, and that without furt
delay.